The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) Welcomes New Board of Directors Members

ATLANTA — (January 1, 2013) — Today the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) announced that the LBDA Board of Directors welcomes five new members, as well as new officers in 2013. The new Board of Directors members include Christina M. Christie, Todd Graham, Max Kaftal, Norma Loeb and Tamara Real. (Bios follow below.)

Christina M. Christie joins the LBDA board and brings not only her personal Lewy body dementia (LBD) experience, as her father was diagnosed with LBD, but also business acumen. Tina has an MBA with a concentration in management and for more than ten years has worked for the chemical manufacturing firm, CRC Industries, Inc.

Todd Graham brings to the LBDA Board of Directors extensive senior level experience in healthcare and medical education marketing and communications, with particular emphasis in medical education and online technologies. Todd is currently the Principal for CoMeg Partners, LLC and works with prestigious clients, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine.

Max Kaftal’s father was diagnosed with LBD in 2007, and he knows firsthand the family struggles associated with the disease. He has been involved with LBDA in a variety of volunteer capacities and has organized an event to benefit LBDA. He is excited to bring to the LBDA Board of Directors extensive experience in financial analysis, and is currently an Investment Banking Analyst with Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.

Norma Loeb for more than ten years has been the primary caregiver for her mother who has LBD. Norma is also the support group facilitator for two LBD support groups in New York, and ran the eldercare group at The New York Times where she worked for many years as an Executive Assistant. She also helped found and is currently the Executive Director of the nonprofit, What BETTER Looks Like.

Tamara Real has turned the struggle of her husband Carl’s LBD diagnosis into a positive for LBD families by starting an LBD Support Group in Ann Arbor, organizing community fundraising events and participating in the LBD Awareness Movement. Tamara brings to the LBDA Board of Directors extensive experience in nonprofit arts organizations, including experience in strategic planning, marketing and communications, as well as advocacy and programming.

LBDA is the only nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated solely to building awareness of Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting people with LBD, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. LBDA was founded by Lewy body dementia caregivers and today the majority of its Board of Directors is still current or former LBD caregivers. The LBDA’s Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is composed of international leaders in LBD research and clinical management.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association
The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit www.lbda.org.